Cervical spondylotic myelopathy treated by oblique corpectomy: a prospective study

Anterolateral partial oblique corpectomy (OC) aims to decompress the cervical spinal cord without subsequent fusion and saves the patient from graft-, instrument-, and fusion-related complications. Although it is a promising technique, there are few studies dealing with its efficacy and safety.

In this prospective study, 40 consecutive patients underwent an OC (one to four levels from C3 to C7) for cervical spondylotic myelopathy; they ranged in age from 43 to 78 years (mean, 55 yr). The average follow-up period was 59 months (range, 24-98 mo). Clinical and radiological data were analyzed to assess the results and find possible factors related to outcomes.

Thirty-seven (92.5%) of the 40 patients improved by the 6-month follow-up examination according to the Japanese Orthopedic Association score. The improvement was the most prominent in lower extremity dysfunction. Recovery was positively correlated with the preoperative Japanese Orthopedic Association score (r = 0.37, P = 0.018). Permanent Horner's syndrome developed in four patients (10%). During the long-term follow-up period, neurological improvement was maintained and there were no signs of postoperative instability, posture change, or axial pain.

OC for treating multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy achieved good results with a low morbidity rate. The results of the current study suggest that OC is a good alternative to conventional median corpectomy and fusion techniques in selected cases.